Minor League Transactions
September 18th, 2009
Baseball America has their latest list of minor league transactions up for the timeframe September 7-13. It lists a slew of activations from the minor league DL but that is not unexpected and is strictly procedural.
Of interest is the fact that there were more players recalled than previously reported. The following players were recalled but did not report:
- RHP Luis Atilano
- RHP Collin Balester
- RHP Shairon Martis
- RHP Ryan Mattheus
- RHP Stephen Strasburg
- LHP Matt Chico
I left a comment for the author, Matt Eddy, and he confirmed that all of those players were recalled and are accruing service time. It’s not likely to amount to much, but there are six players who are going to accrue roughly 30-35 days of service time while not playing in any major league games.
Categories: Players, Washington (MLB)
Brian — why would they do that? I’m trying to figure this one out.
Of topic … do you think there’s any chance of the Nats adding another minor league affiliate, say in the Appalachian League? I honestly do not know if any of the App teams contracts are up, but noticed that Seattle has a team in Pulaski, VA and the White Sox have one in Bristol. Would adding another rookie-level team help in the player development? Is there any evidence showing that a player develops quicker/better by going from the GCL to Appalachian to the NY/Penn League, or is it better to skip the Appalachian League altogether?
e – No idea whatsoever.
I thought the Nationals might consider an Appy League affiliate, but I’d imagine it would not be an additional team but replacing another affiliate, likely Vermont. But I don’t consider either option very likely (GCL/Vermont/Appy or GCL/Appy).
Any thought that the adding of Strasburg could be a way to avoid them screwing with service time next year that Boras negotiated?
I’d love to see the team add another rookie ball team. I don’t know if it really makes a great difference overall, but It can’t hurt the development of prospects, given the state of the Nats system having another 24 guys can only help.
I could be wrong, but I think that this is a procedural technicality also and the entire 40-man roster is “recalled” once the minor league season ends.
I’d like to see us add a venezuelan team before anything else
CJ – ditto on that! With the report of Rizzo interested in that D’Backs Venezuelan, I hope that is a sign we are on our way. Still would take time, we have so few Venezuelans, it would be tough to field a team down there.
Since Strasburg was never activated to an affiliate roster was he ever actually “optioned” this year.
It likely won’t matter, unless he gets hurt – but just in case will he have 3 option years remaining in 2010? Also, basically the same question on Detwiler’s first year, we added him to the 40 man with his call-up in ’07, but we never had to option him back so after optioning him in ’08 & ’09 he has 1 option year left, correct?
Question on Strasburg…I’ve been a little confused about how his contract impacts how long the team will retain control of him. I’m not sure if:
A) he was given an MLB contract and if this means that regardless of where he plays next year he’s accruing service time…which means 6 years before he hits free agency or
B) his clock will start when he’s first called up
Seems like a pretty important distinction…if its A) then every minute the team keeps him in the minors is lost if B) then if the team wants his best 6 years it should be more patient and not rush.
Nice little paycheck boost for Matheus. Sitting out after surgery, and his paycheck improves 10 fold in the process.
He’s got to be happy about the trade.
Emmett – Strasburg was placed on the 40-man roster when he was signed in the middle of August. The Nationals then optioned him to the Gulf Coast League. Players in the minor leagues do not accrue any service time will in the minor leagues. He did not begin to accrue any service time until he was recalled in September. The only thing that happened between his signing date and September was the use of one of his three option years.
However, as Baseball America’s transactions highlight, Strasburg was recalled some time in September (no date was provided). So, he has been accruing days of service time since his recalling. Taking into account the four days of games in October, the most days that he would accrue would be 34 (30 in September + 4 in October). It’s likely slightly less than that but 34 is a good guess-timate.
There are 172 days in a MLB year, if I recall correctly. Strasburg will not be a free agent until he has accrued six years of service. So, entering the 2010 season he would have no more than 0.034 service time (0 years, 34 days). Assuming he would not spend any time in the minor leagues, he would not become a free agent until after the 2015 season.
But the odds are that the Nationals will likely start Strasburg off in the minors in 2010, for at the very least enough days to push his free agency off one additional year. If somehow, the Nationals can work the calendar so that Strasburg begins the 2015 season with roughly 4.150 or less service time, he would finish the 2015 season with roughly 5.170 (the MLB season is counted as 172 days but there are typically more than 172 calendar days in a MLB season, if that makes sense). By doing that, the Nationals would have Strasburg for one additional season prior to free agency.
The discussions of his option years is a whole other discussion
Thanks Brian – great site by the way. Given he begins accruing service only when he’s called up, then the strategy for his development changes. Seems like if he starts in the minors and dominates, he comes up as you suggest. If for some reason he struggles then the Nats have the luxury of promoting him when he’s ready without losing any of their six years. Like I said, pretty big distinction.
Brian
Why would the Nats call up Mattheus who had TJ Surgery in July, 2009?